Chapter 104

“What, Roe Deer? You haven’t forgotten me, have you? It’s been ages!”

The man standing in the dark corridor held out his hand, his tone as cheerful as ever. My former superior from Team D, wearing a badger mask. I hadn’t seen him in a long time.

“... Supervisor?”

There was no mistaking him. It was Supervisor Park Minseong.

The man who had practically been my mentor seemed fully himself, just as he had when we worked together.

I hastily took his hand and asked, “Have you recovered?”

“I’m a lot better. Um, I’m gradually working on rehabilitation now. Everyday life hasn’t been much of a problem lately, either. Right, Chief?”

“Yes, well... that’s right...”

Phew.

‘I never expected to meet him like this.’

Seeing him looking all right nearly brought a lump to my throat. My voice brightened along with his.

“Then, Park Min...”

“Call me Badger!”

“...”

“No, um... it’s just... hearing my name still causes a few, um. Problems sometimes.”

“... I see.”

I shut my mouth. I had been about to ask whether he could return to work, but I had my answer.

Now that I looked closely, beneath his cheerful smile, Supervisor Park Minseong’s face seemed rather pale and anxious...

His cheeks and the area around his eyes, hard to see behind the mask, looked a little gaunt, too.

-Oh dear, today’s partner doesn’t look to be in good shape!

Right.

‘He still seems to be... recovering.’

Was it really all right to make someone in that condition help with work assigned as punishment?

“Let’s go, Roe Deer. We should finish quickly so you can rest!”

“... Yes.”

But as the one being disciplined, I had no authority to ask them to give my partner something else to do.

I thanked the security chief for showing me around and followed Supervisor Park Minseong, who was already in his cleaning uniform...

“Oh, hang on.”

“Yes?”

“Take these...”

The security chief stopped me, briefly set down the doughnut boxes he had been cradling so carefully, and took something out of his pocket.

Two old radios.

“If you’re in danger... call. I’m on night duty today...”

“... Will these connect to you, Jay?”

He nodded a couple of times.

Two conflicting feelings hit me at once: ‘So it really could be dangerous,’ and ‘Thank you so damn much.’

“Thank you.”

“Sure...”

The security chief added, almost in passing, in a low voice. He was looking at Supervisor Park Minseong, speaking too softly for him to hear.

“Be careful.”

“...”

My hands went cold.

I barely managed a nod, then handed one of the radios to Supervisor Park Minseong.

And we started down the underground corridor... toward the Security Team Loan Warehouse.

TAP, TAP.

TAP, TAP.

TAP, TAP...

“Roe Deer.”

“Yes!”

“Oh, sorry. Did I startle you?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Haha, well, that’s good...”

Walking beside me, Supervisor Park Minseong trailed off, his voice trembling slightly.

“Um, it’s been a long time since I talked to anyone outside Security... Uh, did I say something weird? Was I awkward?”

“...”

I let out a breath.

“No. You... were your usual self, Supervisor.”

“Huh? Wait, that wasn’t an insult, was it?”

“Who knows?”

“...! Wow, Roe Deer’s making jokes now?! Is this the seasoned confidence that comes with a promotion?”

Laughter crept into our conversation, lightening the mood a little.

“... May I ask how you’ve been?”

“Of course. Um... I’ve been here the whole time. The whole time.”

The supervisor muttered quickly, almost spitting out the words.

“I didn’t know, but there are treatment rooms underground, and a place like a training camp, and strange, really strange places... No, um, those areas are restricted to Security, so I shouldn’t say any more...”

Damn it.

“Then you don’t have to tell me. Let’s talk about something...”

“It’s so strange. Why does it go so deep underground? Come to think of it, I always wondered why our company had a separate parking tower instead of an underground garage. But now I know why. It’s too deep down here, and strange, so strange that I need to go back to where I used to work...”

“Supervisor Badger!”

“...!!”

He stopped walking and slowly exhaled.

“Sorry. ... Shall we talk about something else?”

“Yes. Let’s.”

I launched into random chatter about currently popular shows. Braun fed me topics, which made it easier.

“Oh, I watched that, too!”

“It was fun.”

Fortunately, he seemed to have free access to the internet and streaming services, so we kept chatting without any trouble.

But my back was damp with cold sweat.

‘This won’t do.’

Even a perfectly healthy person might start to lose it, stuck in this vast, enclosed underground space without a single window.

‘And I think Supervisor Park Minseong had a sick family member, too...’

[“... I have a family member in the hospital. I’d like someone to check in on them once this filming is over! If possible.”]

... I couldn’t bring myself to mention it outright. I approached the subject indirectly.

“Do you have to stay down here?”

“No. They said once I’ve recovered enough, I can leave, whether I transfer departments or resign.”

Phew.

“The security team seems to go outside or move around freely at night, too.”

That was a relief.

“Oh, we’re here.”

At last, today’s workplace appeared before us.

[Security Team Loan Warehouse]

Wow.

‘It’s seriously imposing at night.’

I suppressed a groan in front of the metal doors.

Then a cold voice rang out from my pocket.

-Ah, this unpleasant place.

“...”

Aaaah! Right!

This was where they had sorted Braun into the recycling and dumped him!!

‘Um, Braun. If it bothers you, would you rather stay home next time?’

-It’s quite all right! Not projecting one’s personal displeasure onto a location is another virtue of an industry professional. However, my friend...

Braun’s voice lowered.

-I believe I’m going to feel depressed. Do entertain me, please...

“...”

‘I’ll... do my best.’

That’s asking too much, Host...!

“Oh, right. Here.”

As I agonized, Supervisor Park Minseong took something from the pocket of his orange uniform and handed it to me.

A slip of paper that looked like a photocopy of handwritten notes.

“Um, they gave me this. It’s a list of work tips that gets passed around the security team. I thought you should read it, too, Roe Deer, so I got an extra copy!”

“Oh, thank you...”

Work tips?

I quickly read through the note.

* * *

Night Cleaning Tips

Hi! If you’re reading this, you’ve had the bad luck to get stuck cleaning in the dead of night.

Yep, that’s right. The Security area is crawling with crazy fuckers and contamination, and going in at night with just two people is the perfect recipe for an even freakier experience.

But don’t worry too much. Just read the handy tips I’ve written down, and you can get it done and get out without much trouble.

* * *

‘Wait a second.’

This was the textbook opening to a workplace-rules horror story.

You know the kind.

Someone takes a supposedly high-paying side job as a night guard or babysitter, only to be handed a weird set of work rules and told to survive.

Several indie horror games of this type based on <Records of Dark Exploration> immediately sprang to mind.

‘That makes it even scarier.’

Swallowing, I hurriedly read the next sentence.

* * *

In a way, it’s a sweet deal, you know? There’s extra pay. Whether you’re after money, points, or Nostalgia equipment, just focus on that and hang in there.

If you’re here as punishment, well... good luck.

I really hope you’re on the Field Exploration Team.

* * *

“...”

Yes. That would be me...

Gritting my teeth, I quickly read the remaining “tips.”

... Cleaning would begin soon.

* * *

SPLASH.

I mopped the loan warehouse floor.

It wasn’t particularly dirty, but there were various colored stains of unknown origin stuck to it...

* * *

1. Wash your mop as soon as it gets dirty. It works out better that way.

The cleaning solution is strong, so you only need to rinse it a few times. Easy, right?

* * *

‘Well, that’s reassuring, I suppose...’

Fortunately, although it wasn’t as bright as during the day, about half the warehouse lights had been left on. There was enough light to clean by.

‘I can even read the signs.’

I glanced at a notice reading, “Always Buying Nostalgia Series Items / Inquire at the Desk for Details,” then focused on the floor again.

“Roe Deer, if you find anything strange, don’t touch it. Just clean around it.”

“Yes.”

SPLASH.

“Have you done this before, Supervisor?”

“This is my first time cleaning... but, um, I’ve done other work for Security.”

Supervisor Park Minseong smiled, his voice holding a hint of anticipation.

“If I pass this, I think they’ll give my recovery a passing grade... enough to transfer me to Security, at least.”

“...!”

What a relief.

I asked cautiously, “What about getting more treatment and returning to the Field Exploration Team altogether?”

“Haha... Would that be good? I’ll have to try.”

It was a fairly hopeful conversation.

And we diligently worked away at the cleaning, going through the motions.

‘This is easier than I expected.’

Apart from being tired because it was the middle of the night, I was fine.

The work tips themselves were so unequivocal, after all.

* * *

2. Whatever happens, stay calm and keep cleaning.

All sorts of things happen when you enter the Security area at night. Still, the loan warehouse isn’t a bad spot, all things considered!

* * *

‘Understood.’

That more or less summed up the whole thing.

‘Keep cleaning without reacting, no matter what happens.’

I could do this.

We quickly finished cleaning the warehouse’s front area. It wasn’t that large to begin with, so an hour was enough to scrub away all the grime stuck to the floor.

“That’s half our area done! All that’s left is...”

The supervisor and I turned our heads at the same time.

“... Over there.”

One of the three doors leading into the containment areas.

[Containment B]

‘Whew.’

-Ah, the corridor you emerged from during that unpleasant experience last time, Mr. Roe Deer.

Exactly.

Of all places, it was the corridor containing the room I’d been confined in. Now we had to go inside.

* * *

3. Don’t open any containment room doors while cleaning. Well, no employee here could possibly be unaware of that... but I’m writing it down just in case.

4. No, let me stress this again. Just ignore any sounds coming from the containment rooms. Don’t answer.

No matter who begs you from inside or claims to be your family or friend, it’s never true, so don’t open the door!!

* * *

CREAK.

We opened the door to the containment area, went inside, and closed it behind us.

A gray corridor stretched out before us, with metal containment room doors lining both sides.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

I wanted to at least leave the entrance open while we worked. Knowing I couldn’t was an enormous mental burden.

I swallowed and kept mopping.

... The sounds I’d heard on my way out last time were echoing through the quiet corridor.

“Heeheeheeheehee.”

“Please save me please save me please save me”

“I’m not a person who belongs here I’m not a person who belongs here I’m not a person”

“Heeheeheeheehee”

“Once I get out I should die”

‘Wow, seriously.’

I was going to lose my mind.

I deliberately made noise as I rinsed my mop, trying to drown out even a little of it.

That was when it happened.

Supervisor Park Minseong stopped mopping and abruptly raised his head.

He stared blankly... at one of the firmly shut containment rooms.

[Containment Room B14]

“Roe Deer.”

Damn it.

“Roe Deer. I can hear the Deputy in there.”

“No, you can’t.”

“But... I can hear her.”

“No. Let’s keep cleaning, Supervisor Badger.”

“Oh... okay.”

* * *

5. If your partner starts talking crazy, ditch them and save yourself. Got it? Try to help for no reason and you’ll die, too. Security team rookies, take this to heart!!

* * *

Was this really the right thing to do?

SPLASH, SPLASH.

As I mopped the floor, I felt something strange.

‘... Anxiety?’

This was different from my previous explorations of Darkness.

Cleaning all night without a manual, wiki records, or any analysis of escape patterns, relying solely on the advice of some unknown veteran.

I really felt as though I’d shown up for a part-time job at a bizarre place with no information whatsoever.

What was I even...

TAP, TAP.

“Roe Deer, watch out.”

“...!”

I quickly stepped aside.

Someone was approaching from the far end of the gray containment corridor...

TAP, TAP.

A person in a black facilities staff uniform.

He gave us a slight bow.

Then...

“Oh. You’re today’s cleaners.”

He spoke normally. Phew.

When Supervisor Park Minseong and I bowed back, the employee quickly explained in a slightly embarrassed tone.

“I’m the patrol officer on duty tonight. ... The cleaners sometimes seem startled by me.”

Ah.

* * *

7. Sometimes you’ll run into an officer on night patrol. They appreciate a bottle of water.

Give them one if you have it. Making things awkward with someone working the same night shift isn’t a good choice.

* * *

“Hello. Would you like a bottle of water?”

“Oh, I’d appreciate that.”

At Supervisor Park Minseong’s prompting glance, I handed the officer one of our issued water bottles. He gulped down a whole bottle on the spot.

“I’ll see you around, then.”

And with the bottle still pressed to his mouth, he continued through the containment corridor toward the loan warehouse...

* * *

But here’s the thing.

This company’s security team doesn’t have a rank called “officer.”

Remember. Don’t say anything unnecessary.

* * *

“I’m still thirsty...”

Far down the hall, I could make out a blurred name on the “patrol officer’s” back: “■■ Research Institute”...

TAP, TAP... GULP.

The footsteps and swallowing vanished as if they had never existed the moment he rounded the corner.

“...”

Ha.

‘I really feel like I’ve stepped into a horror movie.’

SPLASH.

I started mopping again, talking with Braun and chatting with Supervisor Park Minseong, trying my hardest to ignore whatever sounds came from the containment rooms.

At last, we had nearly finished cleaning the corridor.

‘Phew.’

The supervisor and I turned to each other with relieved smiles.

“Shall we finish up and head out?”

“Shall we? I think we finished really fast... Oh, right.”

Supervisor Park Minseong gave a start, rummaged through his pocket, and pulled out another note.

“Th-these are tips for the early morning hours. They said to read them a while after starting work so we wouldn’t get confused.”

“Oh, thank you.”

What else could possibly happen...?

‘Thank goodness we’re leaving soon...!’

Screaming and crying only on the inside, I hurriedly read these tips carefully, too.

But...

* * *

11. Ha... Time to talk about this. You’ve probably been cleaning for about three hours now. Right?

... Around then, you’ll start hearing some crazy fucker talking in Containment Room B14.

* * *

... Wait.

“Supervisor. It’s... three in the morning now, right?”

“Yeah. I think it’s about...”

“Is someone there?”

“...”

“...”

“Someone’s there, aren’t they? Is someone there? Someone’s there, aren’t they? Is someone there? Someone’s there, aren’t they? Is someone there? Someone’s there, aren’t they?”

We both turned our heads.

[Containment Room B14]

“Want me to tell you how to get out of here? Want me to tell you how to survive? Want me to tell you how to bring the dead back to life? Want me to tell you this company’s secrets? I’ll just tell you come closer just a little closer and I’ll tell you the truth about the world—”

I wanted to run.

I wanted to fling open the door and sprint through the loan warehouse at full speed.

I wanted to tell the security chief something like, “I quit, effective today,” dump all my remaining Nostalgia Candy on Supervisor Park Minseong, leave this place, and never come back...

But I couldn’t, so I might as well read the tips...

* * *

The Name? Anyway, this fucker shouts weird stuff and offers to tell you how to be happy. Just swear at him a bit and he’ll quiet down.

If you don’t want to swear, just telling him to get lost is fine.

* * *

I hated this so much.

But I opened my mouth to tell him to get lost...

“...”

Wait.

“Roe Deer?”

“One moment.”

I took out the first page of notes I’d been given earlier.

It definitely said...

* * *

4. No, let me stress this again. Just ignore any sounds coming from the containment rooms. Don’t answer.

* * *

“...”

Rules 4 and 11 contradicted each other.

‘Which... one am I supposed to follow?’

Contradictory numbered rules were common in these workplace-rules horror stories, but, well, the thing was, they usually didn’t tell you which one was definitely right...

Had the tips changed because time had passed? Or was this second page itself wrong? Or...

“Roe Deer.”

“...!”

Supervisor Park Minseong shoved me back.

“Something’s wro—”

CREEEEAK.

The door to Containment Room B14 began to open.